How often must pica occur to be diagnosed?

For a diagnosis of pica, the behavior must occur regularly over a specific time frame to establish a pattern of the eating disorder. The correct criterion is the need for the consumption of non-nutritive, non-food substances to happen at least once a month. This frequency is used as a standard in clinical practices, ensuring that the behavior is not just a momentary occurrence or an isolated incident. By requiring this regularity, practitioners can better differentiate between occasional behavior that might not warrant concern and a pattern indicative of pica, which may necessitate further assessment and intervention. In contrast, the other options either suggest a frequency that is too high or too low to meet the established criteria for diagnosis.